We recently connected with Doug O’Connell and have shared our conversation below.
Doug , so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I keep my creativity alive in many different ways and have gained the knowledge of knowing they work for me. I believe being open and willing to keep learning new things really helps keep my creative side alive! Being willing to learn new things has broadened my skill level in my craft in such a positive way. You can always learn something new and put it towards your work life or normal life and I absolutely love that our brains allow us to keep growing! It’s all about growth! Another great thing to do is avoid ruts. If you get stuck doing the same things every day in the same way, your brain doesn’t get much new to work with. It’s great to step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself. You never know what the outcome can be! I believe that creativity is a discipline just as much as it is a gift. It’s about showing up consistently, whether or not you feel inspired in the moment. There’s a saying that goes, ‘If we show up, the muse will show up,’ and I truly believe in that. I’ve found that some of my best creative work has happened when I didn’t initially feel like it or lacked motivation, but I always show up and do my best! I always love to embrace collaborations and work with others to generate new ideas and solutions. This can lead to new insights and approaches that you may not have considered on your own. You also learn so much from other people when collabing and it’s so fun to brainstorm and come up with ideas with others and see the amazing ideas that come out of it! I think the most important thing to do to maintain creativity is to take breaks. Give your mind a chance to rest and recharge by taking breaks, engaging in hobbies, or pursuing other interests. This can help prevent burnout and keep you energized and creative. Creativity levels are limitless so never be afraid to try something!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Doug O’Connell and I am a professional hairstylist in the Orange County/Los Angeles area. I have been in the hair industry for about 11 years and have loved the journey this career path has taken me on so far! I attended cosmetology school was I was 20 years old in Fullerton,Ca. Growing up I never knew I wanted to do hair, I just always knew I wanted to do something in the creative field, but could never really pin point exactly what that was. The way I got into the beauty industry was I was very interested in doing makeup. We’ll come to find out makeup wasn’t my thing and it just didn’t feel right. So I ventured out, really brainstormed what I wanted to do and where my passion really was and went to school for hair and fell in love with every moment of it every step of that way. Once I graduated and received my license I got an assistant position for a stylist at a salon right away, then worked as the owners assistant, learning as much as I possibly could and pushing myself to the limit and a little less than 2 years later I had my own chair. I learned so much being an assistant. I highly recommend that every single person that graduates should be an assistant. That’s where you learn the most! I loved taking clients, doing their hair and having an impact on their physical image. It feels so good knowing you made someone’s day or hear their story and really develop relationships with these complete strangers. I work full time behind the chair, but I always do a lot of outside work as well such as photoshoots, events, red carpets, wedding and more. I do everything from color to cuts to styling to extensions. The thing I am most proud of this far in my career is I’ve gotten to style hair for the Emmys in 2002 for some of the girls on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The moment I was asked to do this I literally cried because it was so special to me to be asked. My work has also been featured on MTV in 2023. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me because I truly know this is only the beginning to amazing journey.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The top three things I can think of that helped me through my journey are consistency, dedication, and focus. Staying consistent shows people how much you care and put into your craft. Personally I know when I go get a service done I always want consistent results which is why I strive to make sure my work is consistent with my clients. You always know what you’re getting. Dedication is probably the top quality I use everyday! Being dedicated really just shows you care! Show up, perform with excellence and everything will fall into place! Staying focused is super important because I think it just proves that you’re dedicated and consistent! Focus on the things that are going to better yourself and your career. I’ve used many helpful outlets online or even just talking to fellow entrepreneurs, family and friends. So many people have such good advice that you can put into your daily life to better yourself. We are all on our own journey, but never be afraid to ask for help. I’m constantly asking questions and trying to learn as much information/advice from people. It truly has helped myself and my career launch to the next level. No one knows everything, so never be afraid to ask.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking to connect or collaborate with fellow hairstylists, photographers, product companies, etc. I think when you connect with other people/brands it really opens up your mind to learn and try new things. You can find me on many social media outlets or by email if you’re wanting to collaborate with me. Instagram @dougoconnell13
TikTok @dougoconnell13
Email: [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @dougoconnell13
- Twitter: @dougoconnell13
- Other: Tik Tok @dougoconnell13
